A number of unavoidable snags were the main reasons for the Leonora Synthetic track falling behind its initial schedule according to Director of Design and Constructing Services Limited (DCSL) Patrick Pitt.
Pitt was speaking to media operatives at a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports offices on Main Street.
Pitt yesterday said that the three phases for the completion of the process has further been divided into twelve plots.
The current state of the track is plot five which is the grading and surfacing aspect of the track after the pipes would have already been laid.
Additionally, Pitt said that the track is three feet below the level of the road which puts the facility at a risk of flooding from high tides and water releases from GUYSUCO.
Pitt also said that it was discovered that track straddles two drains which had to be filled which was a timely process.
He also pointed out that while Germany-based Company Regupol is doing the actual laying of the track they are overseeing the entire process from the foundation level.
“While it is Regupol’s duty to lay the synthetic surface, because they are IAAF certified, they are overseeing the entire process and when they come and are not pleased it causes questions and we had to do further work,” Pitt told the media present.
He also disclosed that they have contacted foreign-based company Tensar for consultation on building the foundation for the track using a grid.
It took four months before Tensar answered and sent the specifications after which a new design was drawn up for the foundational work according to Pitt.
Following that, the redesigned product had to receive approval from parliament which saw work on the track being suspended for some time.
When asked if a feasibility study was done to before hand so as to make the project run more smoothly, Pitt stated, “well we do things from judgments and any contractor would know that no estimate has ever been done and things go they way you planned.
“It is the first of its kind in Guyana and if you have to give the contractors time then you have to give them time to get the track completed,” Pitt responded.
Pitt said he was unsure when the track will be completed as it will depend on how the budget goes in the next couple of years.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, who was appointed to oversee the track on behalf of the ministry, said that because the track was the first of its kind, things should be done properly giving Guyana its money’s worth of the expected Class Two type track.
Ninvalle said that there will be a press briefing every two months on the progress of the track so as to keep the nation informed of its progress.
